QBs begin their ‘open competition’

Driskel, Johnson vie for starting spot

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic quarterback Jason Driskel has been through this before. He’s been the older player in a quarterback competition. He’s split reps with the first-team offense. He’s even done it while learning a new playbook.

But he hasn’t had to fend off a former Florida State quarterback coming off an All-American season in junior college: De’Andre Johnson.

“Competition is competition in general,” Driskel said Tuesday. “There’s always competition, no matter what position you play, no matter what sport you play. So you just got to come out here and be the best version of yourself you can be every day. That’s what I got to do.”

As FAU opens spring practice, Driskel and the transfer Johnson are fighting for the Owls’ starting quarterback position. Driskel worked primarily with the firstteam offense on Tuesday.

It is the second consecutive year FAU has gone through such a competition, with Driskel beating Daniel Parr last season.

“It’s an open competition,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said. “I think a lot of people assume it’s not. But it is.”

Kiffin said the coaching staff would examine three factors when determining the quarterback: timing, accuracy and decision-making.

“It takes a long time and goes back and forth,” Kiffin said. “It’s not an exact science. We’ve missed it before. Other people have missed it. They miss it in the draft every year in the first round. A lot of times, it’s the hardest position to figure out until they really play, which is scrimmage format and then eventually games.”

Driskel started 11 games in 2016, throwing for 2,415 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in Travis Trickett’s offense. Parr started once and totaled 106 yards and two interceptions last year. He is currently sidelined after offseason surgery, and Steven Frank could also factor into the competition after he redshirted in 2016.

Johnson presents a different challenge. Originally from Jacksonville, he was named Mr. Football in Florida before enrolling at Florida State. But in July 2015, video of Johnson punching a woman at a Tallahassee bar circulated, and he was kicked off the team.

He transferred to junior college power East Mississippi Community College, sat out 2015 before starting for the Lions in 2016. Johnson threw for 2,646 yards, 26 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Johnson said he “absolutely” has something to prove after the last two years.

“This year is about vindicating and [restoring] myself,” Johnson said. “Really, I’m just focused on the team. I’m focused on winning. It’s not about me. It’s about FAU football. This is the coach Kiffin era. It’s not my era.”

Johnson said offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ offense is not too different from the one he ran at EMCC, but his main goal for the spring was to get comfortable operating it.

“Really just master it by the time fall comes around, at least by the time guys come report for the summer, so I can be teaching it to them and be better working on it myself,” Johnson said.

Kiffin said Johnson handled himself well on the first day of practice, but that it was hard to evaluate both quarterbacks because the Owls did not wear pads.

“[Johnson] commanded the offense, made some good throws, took off and ran when it was there,” Kiffin said. “We’ll always have to be on him to make sure he’s not running too much, because that’s not what we want to do, making sure he’s staying in the pocket.”

Johnson led EMCC in rushing last season, racking up 834 yards and five touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 yards twice. Driskel was actually FAU’s third-leading rusher last year with 242 yards and four touchdowns.

“[Driskel] made some good throws, strong arm,” Kiffin said. “I’m sure there are some throws that he’d take back, like all the guys today.”